Chapter: 275
As the Executive Manager heads to the Judicial Minister’s office to catch the Second Manager, it sounds like a sentence that would drain your mental energy just to hear. Is this guy getting a bit too reckless because he’s now related to the minister by marriage?
If that’s the case, he’s one scary dude. Using connections even before marriage? If he can rely on his connections, I might have to whip out my own cards.
“Here I am!”
“Oh, you made it.”
Suppressing my complicated feelings, I knocked quickly and strode in. This was a networking disaster of a situation, but first, I had to deal with this insane subordinate.
As soon as I entered the Judicial Minister’s office, I scanned the room and spotted the Second Manager sprawled on the sofa like it was a bed.
‘Insane.’
You, buddy. In your superior’s office, too.
As I stared at the former Second Manager with annoyance in my eyes, the Judicial Minister quietly spoke up.
“He did drink quite a bit. No matter how you look at it, that young guy has a weaker tolerance than I do.”
And I could sense a tinge of awkwardness in his voice.
‘…You’re putting up with this?’
It took a moment for my mind to catch up with the Judicial Minister’s words.
Now that I think about it, it’s strange. The minister doesn’t seem too keen on his relatives cashing in on his position. He might love his niece, but isn’t that affection just for her, and not for her husband who’s effectively raiding his niece, right?
And yet, this raider is snoozing away in his office? That’s absolutely unacceptable. If I were the minister, I would have folded that Second Manager’s spine and tossed him straight to the Executive Manager’s office.
“Why is he here?”
So, I asked the fundamental question. Why did he come to work in the minister’s office instead of the Information Department? And why is he passed out here?
“We had a drink together yesterday.”
“A drink?”
“We had a whole crate.”
After hearing that, I glanced at the Second Manager again. His face was still flushed, and his body was quivering intermittently.
Yeah, this guy is properly wasted.
“It’s the last holiday before the wedding, right? So, we had a decent drink, and now he still can’t wake up.”
While I thought of him as a weakling, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy. The Second Manager normally has a pretty strong tolerance, so if he was in a near-death state, he must have really overdone it.
The minister even mentioned a crate, so he probably drank more than the water in the guy’s body—enough that if you pricked him with a needle, liquor would come gushing out instead of blood.
‘He really got caught out on the job.’
Piecing the situation together, I felt a bit sorry for the twitching Second Manager. He didn’t just stumble into the minister’s office of his own volition. He lost an alcohol battle against the minister and got dumped here as baggage.
“Get him out of here already. It stinks of alcohol.”
“Hey, whose fault is this?”
I wanted to grit my teeth at the cold remark from the perpetrator, but I still helped the sprawled-out Second Manager up.
Even if it was unfortunate to see him like this in the morning, the congratulatory party had to proceed. If he lost his consciousness, then it was only right for him to celebrate in that state. No excuse would stop our celebration.
“Grr…”
As I dragged the Second Manager back to the Executive Manager’s office, I heard a groggy noise next to me.
“Did you wake up?”
“Ugh…”
With a bizarrely low voice, the Second Manager mumbled. Thank goodness, he seems to have regained some mental clarity.
“You’re probably the first person to sleep in the Judicial Minister’s office. We’re heading to the Executive Manager’s office, so hang in there a bit.”
“Yeah…”
His response was slightly clearer this time. Apparently, the thought of going to the Executive Manager’s office feels like home to him, and that made him a bit happier.
Of course, when he hears what’s next, he’ll be even happier.
“We’ve got a wedding celebration party planned. Time for hangover remedies!”
“…”
Just as I thought, he looked elated. He must be so overjoyed that he couldn’t even respond.
This is the spirit of the Information Department, and my heart feels warm.
After a whirlwind celebration with the Second Manager sprawled in the Executive Manager’s chair, two days later, it finally became the day when the Casanova of the Capital would tie the knot with his life partner—no, his life’s grave.
What an emotional day! Our dear sister-in-law, please don’t let this Casanova go free; may they live happily ever after. Our dear sister-in-law has saved countless young ladies…
“I said you could just send money and not show up. Don’t you have anything else to do?”
Amidst all this, seeing the Judicial Minister throw shade at the guests made any lingering sentiments of joy fade away quickly.
“If I don’t show up to my subordinate’s wedding, I’ll get flak for it.”
In that case, you’ll have to see my face six times.
This bastard. I didn’t see this coming.
The sudden realization of this disaster stiffened my body for a moment. If there are six weddings, then every guest who knows me would have to show up six times!
For a brief moment, I envisioned a future where both the Judicial Minister and the Crown Prince would be present at all six weddings.
‘Wow.’
I quickly finished my imagination. There are things in this world that ought not to be visualized, and I momentarily lost sight of that.
“I packed generously.”
Calming my slightly downcast feelings, I handed a bag filled with wedding money to the Judicial Minister.
I wasn’t just saying that; I genuinely packed it heavily. I know both the groom, the Second Manager, and the bride, Christina, so it felt awkward to only give to one side. I stuffed in about twice the standard amount.
“That’s quite hefty.”
Fortunately, it seems the Minister found it satisfactory because he nodded lightly and tossed it into the money box.
Well, of course, he should be satisfied. If there are concerns about money, it’s because the sum is insufficient, per the Gold Duke’s advice. Indeed, social dealings work out if they are managed like the Gold Duke would.
“…Where’s your wife?”
After finally glancing around, I felt a sense of discomfort. Why is the Minister the only one here to greet the guests?
Where did the Airaas Family go? Why is their uncle greeting guests? If the Minister’s wife had been here, I might have thought, “Ah, they’re both working together.”
“Since it’s been a while since relatives gathered, I sent her to chat. It doesn’t really matter who watches over them.”
Understanding the minister’s reasoning made me feel like my common sense had crumbled. No, it absolutely matters…especially at a wedding.
But since I couldn’t summon back someone who had already been sent off, I just nodded. Plus, having a sitting Finance Minister welcome guests does make quite the impression. They’ll probably feel appreciated.
“I’ll go check on the groom.”
“Don’t block the way, hurry up.”
Waving dismissively behind the Judicial Minister, I headed toward where the groom would be.
My lips are already twitching. This is going to be a disaster. I probably won’t be able to hold back my laughter when I see the Second Manager dressed in wedding attire.
*
Sitting in the waiting room, I tried to maintain a smile. My father was thrilled, saying his son had finally become a man, when he could at least tie the knot before thirty. But honestly, I didn’t register much of it.
It’s a complicated feeling. It’s not that I dislike the idea of marriage, but just being here feels strange and subtle. I can’t even figure out how to express it.
It feels like a moment of transitioning into a being that is not me anymore. Like stepping into a different world, one not inhabited until now. Or is that too grand a statement? Still, nothing feels more fitting to describe this sense.
“Why does your face look like that? Did you sleep well?”
While I was trying to sort out these messy emotions, the Executive Manager approached from the entrance, sporting a face that masked a smile.
“Director!”
“Oh, it’s been a while. Nice to meet you again under such good circumstances.”
As my father greeted him first, the Executive Manager bowed his head and offered a handshake.
I wanted to smirk at how my father was grateful for the Executive Manager’s presence—how could he say it was all thanks to him? If anyone was doing anything substantial, it was the Judicial Minister.
‘…Did I benefit from it in some way?’
But thinking back to how I met Christina, maybe he wasn’t wrong after all.
If the Executive Manager hadn’t been at the academy, and I hadn’t gone there to support him, I probably wouldn’t have met Christina. In a way, he might be seen as the origin point of all this.
Anyway, after exchanging greetings with my father, my mother soon followed. The Executive Manager then turned his gaze toward me.
“Congratulations! Honestly, I thought you’d live your entire life alone.”
“I thought so, too.”
Hearing that made my mother’s expression falter, but I still think it’ll be okay since I’m finally getting married. It would have been downright filial disobedience to say that if I were still single.
The Executive Manager seemed to have the same thought, as a chuckle escaped his lips while he padded my shoulder.
“Now you must have children to inherit the Baron title. And don’t worry about your honeymoon; just rest well and return.”
“Isn’t that a bit too much pressure coming from my superior?”
With my superior putting on the pressure that should be coming from my father, it feels like the world has flipped upside down, especially since this guy is younger than me and still unmarried.
“Then you’d better get promoted.”
But with that all-purpose line spewing forth, I couldn’t help but laugh instead of countering.
Clearly, my parents looked surprised that the Executive Manager would speak so bluntly, but he’s always been like this. An aristocrat amongst aristocrats, yet he has the demeanor of a regular commoner.
‘So this is how we get along.’
Dealing with a stiff, authoritarian boss can be exhausting. Just remember how the previous Executive Manager was a real pain in the neck.
But the Executive Manager is different. He’s a pureblood aristocrat like the former Executive Manager, but his attitude toward us is so contrasting. Perhaps having mingled with the Six Blades has made him this way, or maybe he’s just naturally this way.
I’m sure he’ll gladly accept the little gift I have prepared.
‘As much as I received congratulations, I should return the favor.’
A precious flower I tucked carefully into my inside pocket. It was taken from the bouquet prepared for Christina.
‘The guest who catches the bouquet is the next to get married.’
Thinking about how this custom and superstition exist across the line made my lips curl up. Of course, I have no intention of snagging a bridal bouquet from the bride. I only prepared this small gift to follow behind the bigger one.
After the ceremony, I’ll approach the Executive Manager and give him this flower. It was once part of the bouquet, and now it’s a present for someone about to get married.
I’m sure he’ll be delighted.
There’s no one quite like me as his subordinate.
*
This flower of a guy.
“It’s a flower from the bouquet. You need to take one since you’re getting married soon.”
After the wedding ceremony concluded, the Second Manager approached me. And he handed me the flower while babbling nonsense.
For an instant, I thought “don’t use flowers as a weapon,” but today, it seems I could probably smack someone with a flower and get away with it.
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